Technology Pioneer Dies in Evanston

The following obituary is courtesy of Donnellan Family Funeral Services.

John J. Butz, a leading communications executive and software pioneer of ‘Internet Telephony,’ also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), died on February 18, 2015 in Evanston. He was 47.

Since 2008, Mr. Butz served as product manager for Chicago-based Inteliquent (formerly Neutral Tandem). During his tenure, he designed and delivered groundbreaking products for the company, including applications for the global cloud and HD voice carriers. More recently, he assumed responsibility for Inteliquent’s DID Service, growing it into a profitable unit within a short span of two years. In 2011, he received TMC Internet Telephony Magazine’s Excellence Award for his seminal work in HD Voice technology.

Prior to joining Inteliquent, Mr. Butz led the unification of Comcast’s voice and data products, known as the Digital Voice Center. Earlier in his career, he was vice president and member of the founding team of Vonage. Mr. Butz began his career as an engineer/programmer at AT&T Bell Labs, where he and another colleague won a patent for creating a method that switched telephone calls to information service providers.

A New York native, Mr. Butz attended Garden City High School and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Manhattan College.

His love of family and nature were reflected in his passions for music and gardening. Mr. Butz was also an avid cyclist and volunteer at The Recyclery—a non-profit used bike collaborative in Chicago.

He is survived by his wife, Heather, and three children, Louise, Clara, and J.R. (John Robert); his parents, John and Justine Butz of Garden City, NY; and siblings, Janine Deane of Saddle River, NJ, and James Butz of Belle Mead, NJ.

Visitation on Friday, February 20 beginning at 4:00 p.m. with memorial prayers at 7:30 p.m. at Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd. at Old Orchard Rd. Skokie, IL 60077. Visitation on Saturday, February 21at 9:30 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Orthodox Church, 412 Crescent St., Wheaton, IL 60137.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to a college fund for the Butz children c/o Bright Start College Savings Program, 20860 N. Tatum Boulevard, Suite 370, Phoenix, AZ 85050.

VISITATION

Friday February 20, 2015, 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM at Donnellan Family Funeral Services, 10045 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie, Illinois 60077
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VISITATION

Saturday February 21, 2015, 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Orthodox Church, 412 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60137
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FUNERAL SERVICE

Saturday February 21, 2015, 10:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Orthodox Church, 412 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60137
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BURIAL

Saturday February 21, 2015 at Memorial Park Cemetery, 9900 Gross Point Road, Skokie, Illinois 60076
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